Satsangs

Satsang is a compound Sanskrit word that means “keeping the company of the Self.” The Self, Awareness, is the true nature of everyone and one keeps company with it by continually meditating on it in many ways. One of the most effective methods involves discussing non-dual teachings with someone who has realized his or her identity as the Self, to get clarity with reference to Self inquiry. The satsangs posted here are the questions of many people around the world who are interested in enlightenment and find that Vedanta is their preferred means of Self knowledge. Since I am a teacher of Vedanta, a time tested means of self inquiry, I am qualified to reply to these questions.~James Swartz

More than 10 months have been passed, yet I am not sure if I know awareness or not.

Sundari: You may not know awareness, but awareness knows you. You cannot “sink your attention in the source” if the source is the source. You have it backwards.

Who is that “you” asking this question? That is what you should be asking.

The one who is trying to “sink attention” in “source” (I take it you mean the Self) is an object known to the source, i.e. awareness/Self), is the limited person. The Self is the ever-present witness of the limited person. If you are identified with yourself as that limited person, i.e. with the body-mind, then it will be very difficult for you to understand your true nature as the Self or what it means to be the Self. For this, our normal means of knowledge for knowing objects (the mind/five senses) is not sufficient.

For moksa, which is freedom from identification with the body-mind, or person, you need a different means of knowledge – Vedanta, and for that you need certain non-negotiable qualifications and a qualified teacher. If you have both, and you commit to a proper method of Self-inquiry as set out by Vedanta, we can teach you. Forget about how long it takes – it takes as long as it takes for Self-knowledge to remove beginningless ignorance.

To be free of the person you need to understand who and what the person is, how it relates to and is conditioned by the forces that make up the Field of Existence and, what the common identity is between the person and the Field. For some highly qualified people, this does not take more than a few years; for most, it can take decades. A highly qualified person is somehow who has a mind that is purified and ready to assimilate the teachings.

What is your sadhana – have you followed any of the instructions on the front page of our website? We cannot teach you unless you do your part.

~ Om, Sundari

Contacting Shining World

For years I have happily and diligently responded to communications on the topic of Self realization. Since the publication of my book, “How to Attain Enlightenment”— currently in its third printing —and the success of this website, the volume of emails has increased considerably. Unfortunately, owing to a busy schedule of teaching and writing, I am no longer able to answer all the emails I receive in a timely fashion. However, my wife, who is also a teacher, and several well-qualified teachers we have endorsed are available to answer emails on my behalf. I encourage you to send them your questions.
— James SwartzContact Us